Rivers in West Virginia
Coal River (WV) at Tornado
Below flood stage
9.71ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 2:15 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 25.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 11.40 ftWed, Sep 23, 8:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 31.98 ft1967
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 32.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 27.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 25.00 ft |
| Action | 20.00 ft |
- 32.00 ftMajor flooding all along the Coal River. Several homes and buildings are affected. Access to Meadowood Park and the area along the river in the park are flooded.
- 30.00 ftWater floods golf course and homes along low sections of river. Roads flooded and closed throughout Tornado and surrounding areas.
- 29.00 ftBridge over Falls Creek on Coal River Road, located approximately 250 yards north of intersection with Smith Creek Road, floods.
- 28.70 ftDip on Coal River Road approximately 150 yards north of intersection with Smith Creek Road floods.
- 27.00 ftCoal River Road is flooded in several places along river. Smith Creek Road and Ferrell Road are impassable.
- 25.00 ftSmith Creek Road and Ferrell Road become impassable from backwater approximately 1 to 2 miles from the bridge. Sections of Coal River Road upstream from Tornado bridge are flooded. The river banks overflow near the river gauge.
- 20.00 ftBetween 20 to 25 feet, backwater flooding from the Coal River affects Smith Creek. This results in flooding of low spots along the banks of Smith Creek, Ferrell Road, and Coal River Road upstream from gauge.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 30% |
| Moderate flooding | 28% |
| Major flooding | 14% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
62 crests on NOAA’s list since 19.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 7, 1967 | 31.98 ft |
| 2 | December 31, 1969 | 30.89 ft |
| 3 | March 2, 2021 | 30.79 ft |
| 4 | April 16, 2007 | 30.61 ft |
| 5 | March 13, 1963 | 30.14 ft |
| 6 | December 9, 1978 | 29.65 ft |
| 7 | January 26, 1978 | 29.57 ft |
| 8 | February 28, 1962 | 29.00 ft |
| 9 | November 20, 2003 | 28.98 ft |
| 10 | March 5, 2015 | 28.45 ft |
| 11 | February 16, 2025 | 28.21 ft |
| 12 | April 5, 1978 | 27.87 ft |
| 13 | April 5, 1977 | 27.85 ft |
| 14 | January 12, 1974 | 27.03 ft |
| 15 | January 11, 1974 | 26.90 ft |
| 16 | April 4, 2015 | 26.37 ft |
| 17 | December 3, 1991 | 26.32 ft |
| 18 | November 13, 2003 | 26.26 ft |
| 19 | May 17, 1996 | 26.07 ft |
| 20 | February 28, 1973 | 26.00 ft |
| 21 | February 26, 2003 | 25.63 ft |
| 22 | March 14, 2010 | 25.51 ft |
| 23 | February 27, 1972 | 25.38 ft |
| 24 | February 17, 2003 | 25.35 ft |
| 25 | February 18, 2023 | 25.31 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 16, 2025: 28.21 ft
- February 18, 2023: 25.31 ft
- March 2, 2021: 30.79 ft
- February 12, 2020: 21.73 ft
- December 22, 2018: 22.38 ft
- February 12, 2018: 21.98 ft
- May 1, 2016: 20.53 ft
- April 4, 2015: 26.37 ft
- March 5, 2015: 28.45 ft
- December 7, 2013: 23.11 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from <u>forecast issuance time</u> (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.